READY FOR EMERGENCIES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, 12 March 1914, Page 5

READY FOR EMERGENCIES

THE BRITISH ARMY

ESTIMATES INTRODUCED YESTERDAY.

SOME PLEASING FIGURES. [UNITED PBESB ASSOCIATION— COPTEIQHTj (Received March 11, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, March 11. Colonel Seely (Minister for War), m introducing the Army Estimates, I said that although there was a shortage of 8000 Regulars, there was a. I surplus of 13,000 Reservists. The 'speeding up of mobilisation was remarkably successful and the expeditionary force (numbered 162,000 complete in all details. Fifty thou®. ! and were all at arms and could be ready in a few hours to go anywhere. Though the Territorials, were 56,000 short, the year’s recruiting had been the biggest on record, and there was a continuous and substantial n-onasc in efficiency. He did not eav such an army would be able to meet < verv Imperial call, and for this we would want help • from the Dominions overseas, but our army was able to cope with a bolt from the blue. He said the National Reserve was now over 217,000, and if it went to war to-morrow it would want 102,000 horsese, and there were 275,000 available. It was not true that foreigners were depleting the British supply of horses. Tests for accuracy showed that the American rifle came first and the British” rifle second but the British rifle was superior in all-round reliability.